Purpose in life and academic performance: Grit mediation among Chinese college students

Abstract

This study explored the mediating effect of grit (consistency of interest, perseverance of effort) on the association between purpose in life (meaningfulness, goal orientation, and beyond-the-self) and academic performance. Data were collected from 493 students from two universities in Hunan province, China (male = 21.5 %, female = 78.5%; mean age = 20.86 years, SD = 1.69 years). They completed the scales of purpose in life, grit, and academic performance. Following structural equation model analyses, the results showed that higher purpose in life (specifically goal orientation) associated with superior academic performance. Grit (specifically perseverance of effort) mediated the association between purpose in life (specifically goal orientation) and academic performance, increasing the likelihood of high academic achievment. Similarly, grit (specifically perseverance of effort) mediated the relationship between higher purpose in life (specifically beyond-the-self) and academic performance, also increasing the likelihood of high academic achieving. The findings highlight the importance of grit defined by perseverance of effort, goal orientation, as well as belief in beyond the personal self to college achievement in a long-term oriented culture.